{{short description|Indian actress}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Shanthipriya | image = Actress Shantipriya.png | birth_place = Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India | years_active = 1987–1994, 2022 - present <br/>1989, 2002 (Television)<br/>2008–2012 (Television) | spouse = {{marriage|Siddharth Ray|1992|2004|end=d.}} | children = 2 | relatives = Bhanupriya (Elder sister) }} '''Shanthipriya''' is an Indian actress and a dancer who has worked predominantly in Tamil ,Telugu and Hindi films. She is credited as '''Nishanthi''' in Tamil films and '''Shanthipriya''' in Telugu and Hindi films. She is the younger sister of actress Bhanupriya.
==Early life== Shanthipriya was born in Rangampeta village near Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh in a Telugu-speaking family, to Pattabhiram and M.Lakshmi. Her family later moved to Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She has an elder brother Gopikrishana and an elder sister Bhanupriya, who has also been a film actress since the 1980s.<ref name="indolink.com">{{cite web |title=An Interview with Bhanu Priya |url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/People/98/August/Bhanupriya.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323000031/http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/People/98/August/Bhanupriya.htm |archive-date=23 March 2017 |access-date=8 July 2017 |website=indolink.com}}</ref><ref name="thehindu.com">{{cite news |title=For actor Banupriya family comes first now |newspaper=The Hindu |date=28 September 2006 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/for-actor-banupriya-family-comes-first-now/article3082428.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107115221/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/for-actor-banupriya-family-comes-first-now/article3082428.ece |archive-date=7 November 2017 |access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
==Career==
The actress began her journey in films with the 1987 Telugu release ''Kaboye Alludu'', before making her Tamil debut with ''Enga Ooru Pattukaran'' the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-meet-actress-shanthi-priya-star-3-languages-superstar-akshay-kumar-mocked-for-dark-skin-widow-at-36-saugandh-3085599|title = Meet actress who was star in 3 languages, mocked by superstar for dark skin, widowed at 36, top hero refused aid, now...}}</ref>
She was also seen as Shakuntala in the mythological serial ''Vishwamitra'' (1989).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hindi.news18.com/photogallery/entertainment/bollywood-where-is-shantipriya-of-akshay-kumar-and-shakuntala-of-vishwamitra-today-4345496-page-3.html|title = Shantipriya, whom you have seen as Queen Shakuntala in the famous serial 'Vishwamitra| date=26 June 2022 }}</ref>
After playing the leading lady in close to 25 films across Tamil and Telugu, she forayed into Bollywood with Raj N. Sippy’s ''Saugandh'' (1991) which marked the silver screen debut of Akshay Kumar.<ref name=Nishanthi>{{cite news |title=Bhanupriya's sister Shanthipriya clarifies Akshay Kumar's joke on her skin tone: He didn't mean to hurt me |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/bhanupriyas-sister-shanthipriya-clarifies-akshay-kumars-joke-on-her-skin-tone-he-didnt-mean-to-hurt-me/articleshow/76733041.cms |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=1 July 2020}}</ref>
She is the brand ambassador for Solitario Diamonds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Solitario Diamonds announced Sandip Soparrkar and Shanthi Priya as Brand Ambassadors |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/business/business/solitario-diamonds-announced-sandip-soparrkar-and-shanthi-priya-as-brand-ambassadors20220715162652/ |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=ANI News |language=en}}</ref> She is the Advisory board member of World Designing form.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jaipur-mirror.com/three-industry-titans-join-world-designing-forums-advisory-board-enriching-national-designer-awards-2023 |title=Three Industry Titans Join World Designing Forum's Advisory Board, Enriching National Designer Awards 2023 |date=2 December 2023}}</ref>
She has modelled for designer Chhaya Gandhi at the Bombay Times Fashion Week.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/exclusive-90s-actress-shanthi-priya-on-her-comeback-talks-about-her-break-and-sarojini-naidu-biopic/articleshow/91369554.cms |title=Exclusive: 90s actress Shanthi Priya on her comeback! Talks about her break and Sarojini Naidu biopic |newspaper=The Times of India |date=6 May 2022}}</ref> for Sanhita Moulik<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/unlike-in-the-90s-people-think-twice-before-body-shaming-anyone-now-shanthi-priya/articleshow/103709184.cms?from=mdr |title=Unlike in the '90s, people think twice before body shaming anyone now: Shanthi Priya |newspaper=The Times of India |date=16 September 2023}}</ref>
She made her stage debut with a dance drama titled ''Pavitra Tulsi'' playing the leading role of Tulsi at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ndtv.in/bollywood/actress-shanthi-priya-graces-kala-ghoda-arts-festival-with-her-performance-4948952 |title=फूल और अंगार फेम शांति प्रिया ने काला घोड़ा फेस्टिवल में अपनी परफॉरमेंस से बढ़ाई शोभा}}</ref>
She is also acting in the MX Player series ''Dharavi Bank''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dharavi Bank: Shanthi Priya shines in every frame in this gangster drama |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/business/business/dharavi-bank-shanthi-priya-shines-in-every-frame-in-this-gangster-drama20221121173932/ |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=ANI News |language=en}}</ref>
==Awards and Recognitions==
*2023 - International Iconic Women Heroes by Perfect Women Magazine <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodkibaten.in/entertainment/perfect-woman-magazine-celebrates-international-womens-day-with-perfect-woman-awards-2023/26327/ |title=Perfect Woman Magazine Celebrates International Women's Day with Perfect Woman Awards 2023 |date=28 March 2023}}</ref>
==Personal life== Shanthi Priya married actor Siddharth Ray in 1992.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 October 2022 |title=Nostalgia with Shanthi Priya: "I wish I'd focussed on my career instead of getting married at 23" |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/brunch/nostalgia-with-shanthi-priya-i-wish-i-d-focussed-on-my-career-instead-of-getting-married-at-23-101666376527773.html |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> Siddharth was the grandson of V. Shantaram and has acted in films such as ''Baazigar'' and ''Vansh''. They became the parents of two sons. Ray died of a heart attack in 2004, at the age of 40.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ovguide.com/siddharth-ray-9202a8c04000641f800000001d9c79e0 |title=Siddharth Ray Video-Celebrity Interview and Paparazzi |publisher=ovguide |accessdate=20 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Biswas |first1=Shrilata |script-title=hi:'छुपाना भी नहीं आता..' फेम अभिनेता ने बाल कलाकार के तौर पर किया था डेब्यू, कम उम्र में ही दुनिया को कहा अलविदा |language=hi |trans-title='Chupana Bhi Nahi Aata ..' fame actor made debut as a child artist, said goodbye to the world at an early age |url=https://www.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/entertainment/bollywood/flashback-baazigar-fame-actor-siddharth-ray-died-at-the-age-of-40 |access-date=5 July 2021 |publisher=Amarujala.com |date=20 February 2021}}</ref>
==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable" !Year!!Title!!Role!!Language!!Notes |- | rowspan="6" | 1987 || ''Kaboye Alludu'' || Rekha || rowspan="2" | Telugu || |- | ''Naku Pellam Kavali'' || || |- | ''Enga Ooru Pattukaran'' || Shenbagam || rowspan="3" | Tamil || |- | ''Ondru Engal Jaathiye'' || || |- | ''Neram Nalla Irukku'' || Jyothi || |- | ''Maharshi'' || Suchitra || Telugu || |- | rowspan="7" | 1988 || ''Sakkarai Panthal'' || || rowspan="7" | Tamil || |- | ''Sigappu Thali'' || Kalamani || |- | ''Rayilukku Neramachu'' || Chellakili || |- | ''Kai Naattu'' || || |- | ''Dhayam Onnu'' || || |- | ''Poovizhi Raja'' || || |- | ''En Vazhi Thani Vazhi'' || || |- | rowspan="6" | 1989 || ''Anthintha Gandu Naanalla'' || Nishanthi || Kannada || |- | ''Ellame En Thangachi'' || Geetha || Tamil || |- | ''Simha Swapnam'' || Sunita || rowspan="6" | Telugu || |- | ''Yamapasam'' || || |- | ''Raktha Kanneeru'' || || |- | ''Agni'' || || |- | rowspan="6" | 1990 || ''Kaliyuga Abhimanyudu'' || Radha || |- | ''Sila Sasanam'' || || |- | ''Anjali'' || Dancer || rowspan="3" | Tamil || |- | ''Sirayil Pootha Chinna Malar'' || Mangamma || |- | ''Aatha Naan Pass Ayittaen'' || Seetha || |- | ''Justice Rudramadevi'' || || Telugu || |- | rowspan="1" | 1991 || ''Saugandh'' || Chand || rowspan="2" | Hindi || |- | rowspan="2" | 1992 || ''Mere Sajana Saath Nibhana'' || || |- | ''Uyarthavan'' || Shanthi || Tamil || |- | rowspan="4" | 1993 || ''Aandha Intaquam'' || || rowspan="5" | Hindi || |- | ''Phool Aur Angaar'' || Sudha C. Verma || |- | ''Meherbaan'' || Neha || |- | ''Veerta'' || Maina || |- | 1994 || ''Ikke Pe Ikka'' || Komal || |- | 2025 || ''Bad Girl'' || Sundari || Tamil || |- |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Serial!! Role !! Language |- |1989 || ''Vishwamitra'' || Shakuntala || rowspan="5" |Hindi |- |2002 || ''Aryamaan – Brahmaand Ka Yodha'' || Teji |- |2008–2011 || ''Mata Ki Chowki - Kalyug Mein Bhakti Ki Shakti'' || Maa Vaishno Devi |- |2011–2012 || ''Dwarkadheesh – Bhagwaan Shree Krishna'' || Devaki |- |2022–present || ''Dharavi Bank'' || Bonamma |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0698183|Shanti Priya}} * {{Bollywood Hungama person|shanti-priya|Shanti Priya}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shantipriya}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Indian film actresses Category:Indian television actresses Category:20th-century Indian actresses Category:21st-century Indian actresses Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema Category:Actresses in Hindi television Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema Category:Actresses from Andhra Pradesh Category:Actors from East Godavari district Category:Shantaram family